How Does Heroin Affect The Brain? Understanding Its Impact on Mental Health

The debate surrounding Heroin and its effects on the brain is an effort to bring forward the concerns regarding the abuse of drugs. Recent years have seen a high surge in Heroin users around the world. Many of them ended up taking an appointment with neurologists and psychiatrists. Heroin immensely affects the brain and many try to understand how it does. From the sedative effects to triggering the reward system, Heroin can activate the brain like no other drug. This blog will help us understand how does Heroin affect the brain and body and how we can counter its aftereffects.

A Note On Heroin Use And How Does It Affects The Brain

What Is Heroin?

Heroin is a psychoactive opioid drug that has been labelled as an illegal substance in many countries. The use of small amounts of Heroin is allowed in two nations only: Ecuador and Argentina, whereas some European countries use it in medical settings as Diamorphine. It is derived from the opium poppy plant and created in unregulated labs run mostly by unethical organizations. It is sold on the streets illegally by drug peddlers which makes the access and possession of Heroin very easy. They further mix Heroin with Meth or Fentanyl to increase their profits. DEA labels it as a Schedule I controlled substance that must stay out of the common man’s reach.

How Does Heroin Affect The Brain And Neurotransmitters?

To understand how does Heroin affect the brain we need to explore its mechanism. Heroin is taken mostly through intravenous means like snorting or injection. It directly targets the brain by its mechanism to produce the quick “rush”. The moment it enters the nervous system it crosses the blood-brain barrier instantly and turns into Morphine. From here, it starts binding with μ-opioid receptors to release the neurotransmitters of a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is often referred to as the “neurotransmitter of reward” because one of its major functions is to affect the reward system present in our brain. In order to do that Heroin releases humongous amounts of dopamine.

Why Does The Brain Grow Tolerance To The Drug?

Abusing Heroin in a chronic, regular manner can make the brain manage dopamine intake on its own. It reduces its capacity to take dopamine to balance the euphoric effects. This makes the user feel an urge to use Heroin more than usual. People lack awareness of the dangers of abusing Heroin as it is not regulated legally. The opioid receptors start downregulating dopamine neurotransmitters. This is an adaptive response to the high intake of the drug. This happens when the receptors start binding with the drug with much less affinity. The user, in turn, takes more Heroin to achieve the same sensation as before.

How Does Heroin Affect The Brain Cells?

Let us expand our understanding of how Heroin affects the brain. Normally our brain cells contain GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) neurons that inhibit dopamine released from the Ventral Tegmental Area. Heroin shuts down this inhibition process when it enters the brain in the form of Morphine. With longer use of the drug, we get to see what parts of the brain does Heroin affect. The white matter is at a greater risk as it deteriorates on Heroin overdose affecting the link between brain cells. It also reduces the gray matter in our brains which is responsible for making decisions. Heroin goes on to affect the cognitive functions by disrupting the flexibility of synaptic neurons.

Side Effects Of Heroin

Heroin has its effects on our bodies too. The immediate effects of Heroin can last for some time in our system. These side effects are not comfortable just because they are short-term. But the longer you use Heroin, the greater the chance of you facing its serious risks.

Immediate Effects

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Heavy limbs
• Dry mouth
• Itchy skin
• Loss of appetite

Long-term Risks

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Menstrual issues
• Heart lining infections
• Lung diseases

How Does Heroin Affect The Brain Psychologically?

This is the most crucial part of understanding Heroin and brain damage that happens not just physically but to a great extent even psychologically. As per the current data of the World Health Organization, nearly 0.4% of the people in the world are into opioid addiction and Heroin dominates in this list. People develop dependence on Heroin almost instantly just because of its euphoric effects. Many develop a condition called Anhedonia in which one loses the ability to find pleasure in almost everything in life. On top of all this, the physical damages caused by the drug lead to immense anxiety and depression in an Heroin addict.

Mentally Challenging Heroin Addiction

Heroin rehab is not just about the mere act of signing up for treatment but mentally preparing yourself for changing your life. The addicted person needs to be motivated enough to get rid of Heroin as the drug has taken over their decision-making abilities. Two types of Heroin addiction treatment will help the person immensely: MAT and CBT.

• Medication-Assisted Treatment: This remedy takes place in medical settings wherein Heroin is medically detoxified from the body. Doctors will administer Methadone, Naltrexone and Buprenorphine for this method.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: This treatment allows an individual to identify the triggers of cravings. They have to challenge the idea that only Heroin can help them get rid of this urge. Then the addict must focus on taking up activities that will keep them invested in their daily lives.

Steps To Keep The Brain Healthy After Recovery

After recovering from Heroin abuse, we need to take care of the brain as responsibly as treating addiction. Here are some steps that will ensure one has a healthy brain after recovering from drug dependence.

• A study from the Recovery Research Institute shows that physical exercise is one of the ways in which brain health improves significantly. It improves neuroplasticity and blood flow in the cerebrum.
• Sleeping for a complete 7-8 hours peacefully helps brain function well after waking up.
• Doing meditation increases cognitive abilities of the brain like focus and attention.
• Drink enough water and keep your body hydrated as it increases blood flow helping in the detoxification of the brain.
• A diet rich in antioxidants helps deal with oxidative stress which includes berries, spinach, beans, dark chocolate, etc.
• Keep engaging in hobbies so that your brain remains busy.

Conclusion

This generation is seeing a huge rise in Heroin use. Heroin has the potential to cause lifelong damage to your brain. From physical to psychological, every consequence of Heroin affects the brain significantly. Treat your dependence as a disorder, not as a moral failure. You will eventually find ways to improve your brain health affected by Heroin addiction.